Tag: Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira: Team Magomed Ankalaev’s greasing accusation an excuse for failed takedowns at UFC 313

Alex Pereira fired back at Magomed Ankalaev’s coach for accusing him of greasing at UFC 313.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] fired back at [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]’s coach for accusing him of greasing at UFC 313.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in their main event earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In an interview with Ushatayka, Ankalaev’s coach Sukhrab Magomedov accused Pereira of being sticky and having ointment on his body to help him defend takedowns. He even claimed that Pereira’s mentor Glover Teixeira was known to grease.

Pereira stuffed all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedowns, but denies trying to gain an unfair advantage.

“Absolutely did not put anything on my body,” Pereira said on “The Ariel Helwani Show” through an interpreter. “The way his coach is putting it, it sounds to me that he’s trying to make an excuse to justify the fact that he trained a guy to take me down, but the guy got stuffed for 12 of his takedown attempts. It’s like you’re in a company, you mess up, and you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, and then you try to make excuses to justify that. Absolutely didn’t put anything on my body.

“You also have to ask his coach if we put oil and vaseline on the mats too, because is that why Ankalaev fell on his back? He got taken down like that? It upsets me because even in my Glory career, I never did anything I wasn’t supposed to do. If you watch the one time that I got a point taken away, it was because the referee was saying there was too much clinching when there was not, but I always did everything by the book, and that’s why everything’s worked so good in my career.”

Pereira and Ankalaev are expected to rematch, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming that it will probably happen. Even Ankalaev acknowledged that “Poatan” is the most deserving of a shot.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Alex Pereira addresses Joe Rogan’s claim that he fought injured at UFC 313

Alex Pereira contemplated not fighting at UFC 313.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] contemplated not fighting at UFC 313.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in their main event earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

UFC commentator [autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] claimed Pereira entered the fight with a hand injury and was battling norovirus. “Poatan” responded to the rumors that he fought compromised.

“I’m not trying to take credit away from Ankalaev,” Pereira said on “The Ariel Helwani Show” through an interpreter. “Many people try to do that kind of thing, and I’m not this type of guy. Everybody goes through problems, and I’m sure he had his own problems, too. I had mine. My hand is fine, but it did affect things. But I don’t want to use that as an excuse. I don’t want to make excuses. I don’t want to use this as leverage for anything.

“My moment is going to come to win the belt, and then I can disclose everything for you guys. Yes, (I considered not fighting at UFC 313). It was one of the more complicated (fight camps) from everything that happened. I don’t regret it because I’ve conquered a lot, I’ve motivated a lot of people and anytime I’ve pushed through things, I was able to overcome. Many times it worked, but this time it wasn’t my moment.”

All signs are pointing to an immediate rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev later in the year. Ankalaev admitted Pereira is the most deserving of a shot after watching Carlos Ulberg outpoint Jan Blachowicz in this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 255 co-headliner at The O2 in London.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Magomed Ankalaev praises Carlos Ulberg for UFC London win, but says Alex Pereira most deserving

Carlos Ulberg’s UFC Fight Night 255 win wasn’t enough to get Magomed Ankalaev’s attention.

[autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag]’s UFC Fight Night 255 win wasn’t enough to get [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]’s attention.

Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) made it eight-straight wins when he defeated former champion Jan Blachowicz (29-11-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at The O2 in London. The City Kickboxing standout thinks he’s done enough for a title shot, but UFC light heavyweight champion Ankalaev thinks otherwise.

Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) sees [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) as most deserving after he dethroned him to become champion at UFC 313 earlier this month.

“Good win for Carlos but Alex is next. He deserve it more than anyone.”

Ulberg’s win over Blachowicz also left Ankalaev with an opinion on his division.

“Alex different level than all these guys.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Jamahal Hill on one major adjustment Alex Pereira needs to make for Magomed Ankalaev rematch

Jamahal Hill advises Alex Pereira to focus on one particular thing if he wants to reclaim UFC gold.

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] needs to focus on one particular thing if he wants to reclaim UFC gold.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost the light heavyweight title to [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in the UFC 313 main event earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Although Pereira surprised many with his ability to stop all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts, he wound up getting outstruck on the feet. The pair are expected to have an immediate rematch after UFC CEO Dana White approved of the idea after the fight.

Hill, who predicted an Ankalaev win at UFC 313, thinks “Poatan” can’t be nearly as tentative with his offence if he wants to avenge his loss.

“I think he can, I think he’s very capable of making the adjustments that he needs to make to win that fight,” Hill told Home of Fight on Pereira. “He’s going to have to be locked into the gym to where he don’t get tired, he’s going to have to up his cardio a lot because his output is going to have to go up. His output with the kicks, adding more kicks and working a lot more of having a higher volume with kicks in this fight would get it done. But, we’ll see.”

It appears wheels are already in motion for a rematch, with Ankalaev already claiming that a date has been offered.

“I have a date and I accepted already, I hope my opponent will accept too. This time there will be no 5 rounds, I don’t get paid by the hour #BigANK.”

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Tom Aspinall surprised ‘uneducated fans’ thought Alex Pereira beat Magomed Ankalaev

Tom Aspinall can’t understand how certain people scored the UFC 313 main event in favor of Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] can’t understand how certain people scored the UFC 313 main event in favor of [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) defeated Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous decision to become light heavyweight champion earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Media outlets were almost split in their scoring of the fight (h/t MMA Decisions), with nine members awarding Pereira the fight. Interim UFC heavyweight champion Aspinall finds it baffling that anyone could have thought Pereira won.

“I think Ankalaev just had him guessing a lot,” Aspinall said in an interview with JNMediaUK. “I think Pereira’s level on the ground, I don’t know what level he’s at, but I think he’s still a bit wary of getting taken down. He definitely defended the takedowns well, but me with an educated eye watching it, I don’t think Ankalaev was really trying to take him down that much. He definitely tried a couple of times. I think he did 10 or 11 takedown attempts, but I would say only two or three of them he went full blast.

“I think the rest of the time, he was trying to tire him out with the grappling standing, like the cage grappling stuff. I think Ankalaev had the perfect game plan. He didn’t overcommit, tired him out. I can’t believe people watched that fight and thought that Pereira won. It was just wild to me how many uneducated fans are out there and how many uneducated fans thought it was a boring fight, as well. I thought it was an amazing fight, both guys did good, and I think Ankalaev was just a lot better than him on the night. That’s it.”

Pereira’s loss may have served Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) well as he eagerly waits for his title-unification bout with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. However, Aspinall still thinks Pereira could move up to heavyweight down the line.

“He can do whatever he wants, can’t he? He’s an absolute megastar,” Aspinall said of Pereira. “I think there’s fights to be made at middleweight, light heavy or heavy for him. He can do whatever he wants.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Dricus Du Plessis says Alex Pereira ‘aura gone,’ rules out future fight

Dricus Du Plessis saw money going down the drain as Magomed Ankalaev took Alex Pereira’s title at UFC 313.

When [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev, the dollar signs in [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]’ eyes went along with it.

UFC middleweight champion Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and the now former 205-pound champ Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) had been circling each other about the idea of potential clash inside the octagon. They’d made callouts and inserted each other into storylines that was all building toward a potential future fight.

Du Plessis thinks it was all derailed at UFC 313 when Ankalaev took Pereira’s belt by unanimous decision in a relatively lackluster affair.

“Thanks, Ankalaev, for taking the biggest payday of my life,” Du Plessis said on Jackson O’Doherty’s video blog series on YouTube. “It’s nothing personal.”

Du Plessis proposed the idea that all could not be lost for Pereira. It’s expected that “Poatan” will get an immediate rematch with Ankalaev next, and if he recaptures the belt, especially in highlight-reel fashion, it could swing all the momentum back in his favor.

That concept doesn’t intrigue Du Plessis, however. He said the buzz Pereira had behind him won’t be recaptured even if he gets the belt back.

“No (I’m not interested),” Du Plessis said. “Aura gone.”

Du Plessis is expected to next defend his 185-pound belt against undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev, though the matchup has not been announced as finalized with a date and location.

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Brendan Schaub: ‘The UFC’s in some trouble’ after Alex Pereira lost light heavyweight title

Brendan Schaub thinks Alex Pereira losing his title is a problem for the UFC.

[autotag]Brendan Schaub[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] losing his title is a problem for the UFC.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in this past Saturday’s UFC 313 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Schaub scored Rounds 1, 3, and 5 for Pereira, but admits he thinks “he fought terribly.” He also thought UFC 313 was a terrible card, and that the promotion is in dire need of some stars.

“The UFC’s in some trouble, man,” Schaub said on his “The Fighter and The Kid” podcast. “Hey, name their big star. … Ankalaev? How many pay-per-views is he selling? Two: His mom, his uncle – who else? Who do you want? (Alexandre) Pantoja? 125? We don’t give a f*ck. 135? Who else have you got? Merab (Dvalishvili)? Nah, not happening. At middleweight, (Dricus Du Plessis) has a chance.”

Pereira may get an opportunity to reclaim his title after UFC CEO Dana White said an immediate rematch with Ankalaev is probably next. Both Pereira and Ankalaev are expecting to run things back as well.

Outside of Pereira, Schaub named who he sees as the current biggest star in the promotion.

“(Islam) Makhachev is probably their biggest star,” Schaub said. “Pereira is still their most pay-per-view guy, but Makhachev is the biggest star pound-for-pound, and you know, he’s exciting. He’s the one Dagestani that’s exciting.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Chael Sonnen: ‘The narrative that Alex Pereira can’t wrestle is over’ after UFC 313

Chael Sonnen is still hopeful that Alex Pereira could pose Jon Jones problems after UFC 313.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] is still hopeful that [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] could pose [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] problems after UFC 313.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in this past Saturday’s main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Had Pereira won, many thought a super fight against UFC heavyweight champion Jones would be on the horizon. While that’s off the table for now, Sonnen thinks that despite losing, Pereira shut down a criticism about his game when he stuffed all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts.

“You don’t get very far when you start talking about Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “You just don’t get there because we know that Jon can throw him down and beat him up. Like, that’s just something that Jon does so well. He can throw people down and then beat them up.

“Well, you go watch this fight, and you go, ‘Hey, you know what? It turns out that old Alex Pereira isn’t so easy to take down.’ Alex Pereira really showed some stuff. That entire narrative that he can’t wrestle and he can’t defend is now gone. Ankalaev revealed his plan and that was to take him down – his plan failed.”

However, Daniel Cormier disagrees. He thinks Pereira’s loss to Ankalaev showed that he’d have trouble dealing with the strength at heavyweight.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Firas Zahabi: Alex Pereira went through analysis paralysis in UFC 313 title loss

Firas Zahabi thinks Magomed Ankalaev had Alex Pereira overthinking throughout the fight at UFC 313.

[autotag]Firas Zahabi[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] had [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] overthinking throughout the fight at UFC 313.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in this past Saturday’s main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Zahabi was surprised that Ankalaev failed to get Pereira to the ground, and even more surprised that he was able to win without any takedowns landed.

“It wasn’t the most exciting fight, but here’s what’s amazing: Ankalaev outstruck him the whole fight,” Zahabi said on his YouTube channel. “The whole fight was standing, and Ankalaev wins. But if you put these two in a kickboxing match, I think all of us would agree that Pereira wins. Pereira wasn’t throwing, even though his corner was begging him to throw between rounds. … Pereira was hesitant. After Round 1, he was hesitant. He got stunned, and ever since he got stunned, he was hesitant.

“I have my idea why I think he was hesitant. One, he was worried about the takedown. He didn’t want to get taken down. It was on his mind when he got stunned. Now he’s worried about the striking and the takedowns. It was too much. He had to think twice before he throws, and he was like paralysis by analysis. He was trying to predict what Ankalaev was going to do. Ankalaev was more unpredictable than Pereira. Pereira, we all know what’s going to come – the low kick, the knee, the left hook.”

The famed Tristar Gym head coach says Pereira was highly conservative throughout the fight and never took any risks. Although “Poatan” stuffed all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts, Zahabi thinks having to be wary of it led to his tentativeness on offense.

“I think he had an off night, and he was overwhelmed maybe by the threat of wrestling, but he didn’t throw much. It seemed that after he got stunned in Round 2, he just kind of got really conservative. It was crazy. It surprised everybody.”

Zahabi gave his round-by-round breakdown, and says no matter how you scored the rounds, there should be no debate on the outcome.

“Round 1, Pereira did incredible,” Zahabi said. “He was very dominant. It looked like Pereira was going to kick Ankalaev’s leg out. Ankalaev was in the southpaw position. The kicks weren’t as powerful, but Pereira is so experienced, it doesn’t make a difference. However, the low kicks are not as powerful because he’s not kicking with his power side. Still, the kicks were accumulating. Round 1 goes to Pereira.

“Round 2, Ankalaev hurts Pereira, stuns him, puts on the pressure. His corner was egging him on to put pressure and he did. Round 3, not a very super active round for either fighter, but Ankalaev kind of edged it out. I think most people gave Round 3 to Ankalaev. What can I say, Rounds 4 and 5 even for Ankalaev. I know a lot of people gave Round 3 to Pereira, OK, give him Round 3, he still loses 3-2 at best.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Alex Pereira’s coaches think he beat Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, promise ‘Poatan 2.0’ in rematch

Alex Pereira’s coaches disagree with the UFC 313 decision.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s coaches disagree with the UFC 313 decision.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in Saturday’s UFC 313 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Both Glover Teixeira and Plinio Cruz thought their fighter should have gotten his hand raised after managing to stuff all of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts and keeping the fight on the feet.

“We had this defeat, but in my opinion he won,” Teixeira said on Pereira’s YouTube channel (h/t MMA Fighting). “He lost on points, so now we go back to the drawing board and adjust a few things, train hard and go back and get this rematch and make history. ‘Poatan’ has made history before, and he will make history again. He’s a great warrior and I’m very proud of him.”

Things are trending towards an immediate rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev, and Cruz vows a better version of his fighter.

“Life is made of ups and downs, and those ups and downs are what make us who we are on this journey to our goal,” Cruz said. “We’ll come back stronger, regroup as a team. The vibe was great this week. We have no excuses. ‘Poatan’ was fine, and I think he won the fight. This is a stumble, not a fall, and it will only make him stronger, our team stronger. Humans evolve more in times of adversity. Rivalries make us grow.

“It went (Ankalaev’s) way this time, so we’ll train more, study more, get better to deliver you a better version of ‘Poatan’ – more mean. What this guy’s done was make it worse for him because now he’ll fight ‘Poatan 2.0.’ It’s happened to ‘Poatan’ before. It’s not the first time, and a true champion is the one that stumbles but continues moving forward and reconquers it. ‘Poatan’ will reconquer the belt in the rematch. (He’ll be) a more mean version, and our team will be on a level that is higher than it already is.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.